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| At Escape Worldwide we've been visiting the resorts of Egypt and the Red Sea in recent weeks, to see for ourselves what a holiday there is all about, following the recent change in government. Both Darren and Mark spent time in what's always been their favourite resort, Sharm el Sheikh, visiting old favourite hotels as well as new developments along the coast. Popping in to favourite watering holes such as the Camel Bar in Naama Bay is hardly a hardship! |
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Sharm el Sheikh is the largest of the Red Sea resorts, and has developed a number of key areas in recent years. Naama Bay is the original heart of Sharm, with local restaurants, bars and shops along a sandy bay, while new Soho Square offers upmarket restaurants (the Chinese is excellent!) shops and bars. Further south, Il Mercato's designer shops are great while Nabq will have Sharm's second Hard Rock Cafe soon - there's more to Sharm than you may imagine!
Darren's favourite area is Naama Bay - "I love the atmosphere in Naama Bay, with its Egyptian feel, decent restaurants and relaxed feel. My favourite way to spend an evening is to start at the roof bar at the Oonas dive hotel, at the top end of the bay close to the Sofitel - sunset from here over the bay is spectacular. Then work your way along the promenade to the beach bar at the Ghazala Beach Hotel where Happy Hour is the best bargain in Sharm ,and the food is great if you don't want to go much further. Then head to one of the Oriental restaurants one block back for some decent, well priced Egyptian food (the Shish Tawook is always a good option!) before heading to eh roof of the Camel Bar, watching the buzz of the main street below. Finally, I'd finish at the deck bar ar the Lido Hotel, at the opposite end of the bay to where I started the evening, the perfect chill-out bar to wind down in before heading back to my hotel."
On this trip, Mark visited the new Soho Square development, close to the Savoy Hotel in Shark's Bay. "Up until recently Sharm has always been about Naama Bay, but it's great to see these new areas developing away from Naama, giving real alternatives to a long taxi ride or being stuck in your hotel. Further south in Ras Um Sidd the new Il Mercato development has upmarket shops, cafes and restaurant,s while at the north of Sharm, Nabq is becoming a hotspot as the new Hard Rock Cafe is due to open soon, joining other big brands and local options in the area. Soho Square, however, is probably the best known of the new development,s and it's easy to see why. The complex offers a relaxed atmosphere with none of the hassle that you sometimes get in Naama Bay. There are some very good restaurants including Chinese (which I can vouch for myself!), Thai and Middle Eastern, a number of bars ranging from the trendy Ice Bar to the more traditional Queen Vic pub (the service here is very good indeed). There are various shops from designer brands to local crafts, plus plenty for the kids including bowling and even ice skating. Be sure to catch the dancing fountains - spend an evening in Soho Square and you'll be sure to see them! |
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